Combination push-push and momentary switch



4, 1964 E. G. GAYNOR 3,143,605

COMBINATION PUSH-PUSH AND MOMENTARY SWITCH I Filed Aug. 10, 1961 3 v z y United States Patent 3,143,605 COMBINATION PUSH-PU H AND MDMENTARY SWITCH Edwin G. Gaynor, Bridgeport, Conm, assignor to Edwin S. Gaynor, Southport, Conn. Filed Aug. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 130,520 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-) The present invention relates to a novel electric switch and more particularly to a combination push-push and momentary switch where a primary circuit is opened and closed on alternate pushes of a button and a second circuit is closed near the half limit of movement of the button and opened when the button is released and reaches a rest position.

A combination switch of the type disclosed which alternately closes and opens an electric circuit and also momentarily closes a secondary electric circuit is capable of many applications, one of which is in fluorescent lighting. A fluorescent lamp provides lighting by phosphors deposited on the inside of a tube which glow when actuated by ultraviolet rays. An are or discharge is struck between two heated tungsten filaments,'one at each end of the tube. This lamp requires a flow of current through its electrodes for a few moments before the lamp lights, and the momentary switch provides this brief current flow.

v Another application is as a'starter for single phase AC. motors where current applied directly to the motor will not start the motor as a revolving field is absent with the single phase current. To starta single phase motor, an auxiliary winding is used having resistance, inductance or capacitance in the auxiliary winding circuit to split the single phase. The momentary portion of the switch closes a circuit including the auxiliary winding until the motor has suflicient speed, at which time the auxiliary winding is deenergiz ed and the motor operates on the single phase current in the main winding from the primary circuit of the switch.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a novel combination push-push and momentary switch which provides actuation for a circuit and momentary actuation of a second circuit through pairs of rigid terminals supported in the switch casing.

' Another object of the present invention is the provision of an actuating system for an oscillating spiral element providing intermittent movement of a line brush in a bracket which is held with some looseness between a yoke and the switch case. As the functioning of the spiralelement requires a comparatively immovable element, the bracket is set in recesses in the switch case. Complete rigidity of the bracket must be avoided in view of required working tolerances forthe switch.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an oscillating hub for the switch which is oscillated by the spiral element and provides the ratcheting element to operate the line. brush. Thishub is cast of a high dielectric strength material to provide an electric barrier between the live parts of the switch and the manual or'button.

The present invention also comprehends a novel line brush which acts both as a brush and also provides a dog in the form of a lancing to engage ratchet teeth on the underside of the oscillating hub. The four' legs on the brush are turned in one or a downward direction, and

the dog is turned in the other or upward direction.

The present invention further comprehends a novel guide in the switch which serves to oscillate the spiral element and also urges the button back to its position of 7 mum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and arcinherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the assembled switch and casing.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the switch taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows with the hub, starter brush and line brush removed.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the switch showing the pair of terminals adapted to be connected by quick connectors, the view being taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view on the line 66 of FIG. 2 with the line brush removed and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the line brush used in the switch.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the line brush shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the starter brush in the switch.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawing, there is shown a novel illustrative embodiment of the combination push-push and momentary switch designated generally by the reference character 10. As seen in FIG. 1, the switch includes a manually-actuated button 11 reciprocally mounted in a threaded neck 12 which in turn is secured to the switch case 13 by means of a yoke 14 having oppositely disposed arms 15. The switch body has oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves 16 which extend from the bottom 17 of the case to a point short of its top rim 18 (FIG. 3) and receive an inturned tongue 19 on the end of each of the downwardly bent arms 15.

The button 11 is a hollow cylindrical member having a closed upper or outer end and a stepped portion at its inner end providing a shoulder 21 (FIGS. 2 and 3) adapted to engage an inwardly extending flange 22 at the upper or outer end of the threaded neck 12 and limit upward or outward movement of the button.

Received within the button 11 is the connecting end of an inverted, generally U-shaped bracket 23 having outwardly extending arms 24 at its other end, the ends of which are received in oppositely disposed notches 25 (FIG. 4) on the top rim 18 of the switch case 13. Locating the ends of the arms 24 in the notches 25 substantially prevents movement of the bracket 23.

Disposed in and extending through the bracket 23 is a guide 26 which is normally urged upwardly or outwardly by a compression spring 27 encompassing the bracket 23 and having one end seated against the arms 24 and the opposite end against the outer ends of the guide 26. The guide 26 has a centrally located rectangular opening or slot 28 to receive a projected end of an elongated spiral element 29.

The top rim 13 of the switch case 13 defines the periphery of a stepped bore 31 (FIG. 2) in the body having a central recess 32. A hub 33 formed of a high dielectric strength material is contoured as a substantially flat circular member with a central projection 34 depending into the central recess 32. This hub of a high dielectric strength material insulates the live parts of the switch from the actuating button 11 and its associated structure. A generally rectangular groove 35 (FIGS. 3 and 6) in the 3 flat top of the hub 33 conformably receives the opposite or depending endof the spiral element 29. The central projection 34 is cylindrical adjacent the hub and its depending end 36 (FIG. 2) is stepped down or flattened on two sides to conform to the opening in the starter orengage and interact with the line brush 41, and the bore.

also has a centrally'intermediate substantiallyflat surface On opposite sides of the surface 44 a pair of starter or auxiliary terminals 45 extend through this surface in a position to contact the ends of a starter or auxiliarybrush 46 (FIG. 9) to be later described, andextending through opposed second ratchet teeth 43 are line terminals 47, the line terminals being shown positioned in the present'embodiment at right angles to the starter terminals 45. Asseen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the pairs of diametrically opposed terminals 45 and 47 extend through the switch case 13 to adjacent the bottom 17 of the case where they are arranged and substantially centered in recesses 43 to facilitate connection of these terminals 45'and 47 to quick connectors (not shown).

The line brush 41 (FIGS. 7 and 8) is a circular electrically: conductive member having a central opening 49 to conformably receive the projection 34011 the hub 33 about which projection the line brush 41 rotates. Equally and circumferentially spaced legs 51, anchored at one end, are formed along the periphery of the line brush 41 and are bent: downwardly to provide free engaging edges 52 adapted to contact the second ratchet teeth 43' on the shoulder 42. As shownin the drawings, the legs 51 are so arranged asto allow movement or rotation of the line brush 41'. in a clockwisedirection (looking down on the switch), and the edges 52 engage the second ratchet teeth 43 to prevent counterclockwise movement of the line. brush.

A dog 53 is also formed on the line brush 41 inwardly of one of the circumferentially spaced legs 51 and is turned upwardly or outwardly to engage the first ratchet teeth 38 on. the hub 33, the dog 53 engaging the first ratchetteeth 38 during clockwise rotation of the hub 33 and passing over the sloping back sides 39 of the teeth 38 to permit relative movement during counter-clockwise rotation of thehub.

The starter brush 46 (FIGS. 3 and 9) is formed of an electrically conductive material and includes a substantially circular flat collar or body having an opening 54 of a shape to conformably receive the substantially rec tangular end 36 of the projection 34 on the hub 33, causing the starter brush 46 to oscillate with the hub. Diametrically opposed arms 55 project from the flat body, with the arms bent slightly to assure positive contact with the starter terminals and provided with upwardly extending ears or flanges 56 along the edges of the arms.

Turning to the assembly and operation of the switch, the illustrative embodiment discloses the hub 33 provided with eight first ratchet teeth 38 on its underside 37, eight second ratchet teeth 43 on the shoulder 42 in the starter case, and the longitudinal dimension of the starter brush 46 parallel to the diametrically opposed arms 24 on the 'U-shaped brackets 23. Further, the arms 15 of the yoke 14 are removed 90 degrees from the arms 24. With the switch originally in the oif position, depressing the button 11 moves the button over the top of the inverted U-shaped bracket 23 with the lower button end contacting and urging the guide 26 downward against the force of the compression spring 27', movement continuing until the compressed spring 27 prevents further motion. The guide 26 is restrained from rotation by the bracket 23 and moves vertically downward relative to the spiral element,

29, the central rectangular opening 28 in the guide 26 embracing the spiral element. As the guide 26 moves downward, the spiral element 29 rotates in a clockwise direction (looking down on the switch), and the engagement of the lower end of the spiral element in therectangular recess 35 in the hub 33 causes clockwise rotation of the hub.

Rotation of the hub 33 in turn rotates the central projection 34 and the associated starter brush 46 which it carries until at the end of the downward movement of the guide 26'the starter brush 46, after having been rotated degrees, contacts the starter terminals-45 --througl the arms 55 to complete an auxiliary or-starter circuit.

The line brush 41 is also rotated clockwise throughapproximately 45 degrees by engagement of one of the first ratchet teeth 38 'on the hub 33 with the upwardly. extende ing dog 53 on the line brush 41. The increment of rota.- tion moves the line brush from a position where the legs 51 are all resting on inactive second ratchet teeth 43 to a new position where a diametrically opposed pair of legs 51 contact the line terminals 47' "to complete the line. circuit.

When the button 11 isreleased, the compression spring. 27 urges the guide 26 and the button 11 to their normal positions with the shoulder 21 on the button 11 abutting the flange 22 on the threaded neck 12; As the guide 26. moves upward, the spiral element 29 and the hub 33'- are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, and thestarter brush 46 is rotated to its inactive position, thus opening the auxiliary circuit.

The free edges 52 of the legs 51 engage the second ratchet teeth 43 to retain the line brush 41 stationary with the dog 53 allowing thefirst ratchet teeth 38 on the hub 33 to move relative to the line brush 41 bypassingover the inclined back sides 39 on the teeth 38.

Thus, a pushing and releasing motion exerted on the button 11 causes oscillatory motion of the spiral element. 29, the hub 33 and the starter brush 46, while the line brush 41 is incrementally rotated in one direction from an inactive to an active position. A second pushand release of the button 11 will move the line brush 41 to an inactive position where all of the legs 51 are on inactive second ratchet teeth 43 and the line circuit is opened.

From the above description it is thought that the con-. struction and advantages of the invention will, bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changes in detail may be'made without departing from the spirit or losing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, whatI claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric switch for opening and closing a line circuit and momentarily closing anauxiliary circuit, com: prising a switch case having a'recess, line terminals, and auxiliary terminals secured in the case with the terminals exposed at separate levels within the recess, a starter brush in the recess and oscillated between an inactive position and a position contacting said auxiliary terminals, a line brush within the recess rotated incrementally between alternate inactive positions and active positions contacting said line terminals, a hub in said recess, a central projection on the hub, said line brush being mounted on said central projection for rotation relative thereto, and" said starter brush being mounted on said central projection for rotation therewith, first ratchet means including teeth on the undersurface of the hub for rotating the line brush in one direction, second ratchet means including teeth on a surface of the case within said recess for preventing rotation of the line brush in the opposite direction, a spiral element engaging said hub, means for oscillating said spiral element and said hub, and a manually-actuatedbutton to actuate said last mentioned means.

2. An electric switch as set forth in claim 1, in which said h b is formed of a high dielectric strength material to insulate the live areas of the switch from the manuallyactuated button.

3. An electric switch as set forth in claim 1, in which the means to oscillate the spiral element includes a fixed bracket housing the spiral element and a guide having a central opening accommodating said spiral element mounted in said fixed bracket and held against rotation but movable longitudinally of the bracket and said spiral element for causing rotation of said spiral element.

4. An electric switch as set forth in claim 1, in which the means for oscillating the spiral element includes an inverted U-shaped bracket with opposed radially extending arms aflixed to said case, a guide in and extending beyond said bracket at the open sides thereof, said guide having an opening conforming to the cross-section of and receiving said spiral element and moved in a vertical direction to oscillate said spiral element and hub upon actuation of said button.

5. An electric switch comprising a switch case having a recess, terminals rigidly supported in said case, a line brush in said recess and rotated incrementally with the brush contacting said terminals on alternate increments, a hub rotatably mounted in said recess and supporting said line brush, first ratchet teeth on the underside of said hub, second ratchet teeth in said case with said terminals exposed on opposed teeth, and means to oscillate said hub, said line brush having circumferentially spaced downwardly turned legs on its periphery cooperating with said second ratchet teeth in said case and an upwardly turned dog on said brush within the circumference of said legs and cooperating with said ratchet teeth on said hub.

6. An electric switch comprising a switch case having line terminals and auxiliary terminals rigidly secured in and exposed at the bottom of said case for attachment to a connector, said case having a stepped recess which includes a central depression, an outer shoulder in said recess, a plurality of ratchet teeth on said shoulder with said line terminals exposed on a pair of opposite teeth, said recess having an intermediate surface in which the auxiliary terminals are exposed on opposite sides thereof, a hub in said recess having a depending projection ex tending into said central depression, a line brush mounted on said projection for incremental rotation in one direction, an auxiliary brush mounted on said projection below said line brush for limited oscillatory movement, means on said hub to rotate said line brush in one direction, and means to oscillate said hub.

7. An electric switch as set forth in claim 6, in which said line brush includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced downwardly turned legs on the periphery of the brush, the ends of said legs engaging said ratchet teeth to prevent rotation of said line brush in opposite direction.

8. An electric switch as set forth in claim 6, in which said projection on said hub terminates in an end which is substantially rectangular in cross-section, and said auxiliary brush has a central opening accommodating the end of said projection and oppositely extending arms which contact said auxiliary terminals in one position of oscillation.

9. An electric switch as set forth in claim 6, in which said line brush rotating means on said hub includes a plurality of first ratchet teeth on the underside of said hub having sloping back sides, and an upwardly turned dog on said line brush engaging said ratchet teeth on said hub during one direction of oscillation to provide incremental rotary movement of said line brush.

10. An electric switch as set forth in claim 6, in which said means to oscillate said hub includes a manuallyactuated button, an enclosure housing said button, an upwardly biased guide in said enclosure mounted for longitudinal movement only when actuated by said button, and a spiral element in said enclosure and connected to the hub and guide, whereby depressing said button also depresses said guide causing the latter to oscillate said spiral element.

11. An electric switch comprising a switch case having an outwardly projecting neck, line terminals and auxiliary terminals rigidly secured in said case and exposed at the bottom of said case for connection to a conventional connector, said case having a stepped recess including a central depression, an outer shoulder defining the outer periphery of said recess, a plurality of second ratchet teeth on said shoulder with said line terminals exposed on a pair of opposite teeth, an intermediate surface inwardly of said shoulder having said auxiliary terminals exposed on opposite sides thereof, a hub in and overlying said stepped recess, a plurality of first ratchet teeth on the underside of said hub, a central projection on said hub and extending into the central depression, a line brush mounted on said central projection, a plurality of circumferentially spaced downwardly turned legs on said line brush contacting said second ratchet teeth on the outer shoulder to prevent rotation of said brush in one direction, an upwardly turned dog on said brush contacting said first ratchet teeth on said hub to provide incremental rotation in the opposite direction, an auxiliary brush mounted on said projection below and separate from said line brush for oscillating motion, oppositely extending arms on said auxiliary brush contacting said auxiliary terminals at one limit of oscillation, a yoke secured to said case and to said neck, an inverted U-shaped bracket in said neck having oppositely extending arms, notches in said case receiving said arms to prevent relative movement therebetween, a spiral element mounted in said bracket and having one end engaged in a recess in said hub, a guide mounted in said bracket and having a slot conformably receiving said spiral element, a spring having one end abutting the arms of said bracket and the opposite end abutting said guide, and a hollow button received in said neck, encompassing said bracket and engaging the outwardly extending ends of said guide.

12. An electric switch as set forth in claim 11, in which said hub is formed of a high dielectric strength material to insulate said button from said brushes and terminals.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,318,057 Cohen May 4, 1943 2,334,538 Bryant Nov. 16, 1943 2,798,907 Schneider July 9, 1957 

1. AN ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR OPENING AND CLOSING A LINE CIRCUIT AND MOMENTARILY CLOSING AN AUXILIARY CIRCUIT, COMPRISING A SWITCH CASE HAVING A RECESS, LINE TERMINALS, AND AUXILIARY TERMINALS SECURED IN THE CASE WITH THE TERMINALS EXPOSED AT SEPARATE LEVELS WITHIN THE RECESS, A STARTER BRUSH IN THE RECESS AND OSCILLATED BETWEEN AN INACTIVE POSITION AND A POSITION CONTACTING SAID AUXILIARY TERMINALS, A LINE BRUSH WITHIN THE RECESS ROTATED INCREMENTALLY BETWEEN ALTERNATE INACTIVE POSITIONS AND ACTIVE POSITIONS CONTACTING SAID LINE TERMINALS, A HUB IN SAID RECESS, A CENTRAL PROJECTION ON THE HUB, SAID LINE BRUSH BEING MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL PROJECTION FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, AND SAID STARTER BRUSH BEING MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL PROJECTION 